Ask DSM Readers: CVS $2/$10 Coupon Question

Leslie posed a very interesting and important question in the comments on this week’s CVS Scenarios post about the $2/$10 CVS coupon that’s available in Richmond Parents Monthly.

The $2 off $10 coupon I have is from a Richmond publication and it clearly states one coupon per person, not per transaction. I am curious if anyone else has a problem with not conforming to the coupon regulations? To me this seems like a blatant misuse of the generosity of a store and will ultimately make them change their policy so people will have to conform to the rules and regulations.

I would welcome your thoughts.

Because I’m working under a deadline on a transcript and I’d like to hear various opinions, I’m throwing this one out to my readers to get your points of view.

So what do you all think??? Please be respectful of others’ opinions in your comments.

Reader Interactions

Comments

I agree with the original poster. I have only used the coupon once. it doesnt seem honest to me.If the casier forgot to scan a $2 item at any store, I would tell them. isnt this kind of the same thing?

I agree with the original poster. I have only used the coupon once. it doesnt seem honest to me.If the casier forgot to scan a $2 item at any store, I would tell them. isnt this kind of the same thing?

I’m so glad you posted this. Honestly, I had never read the fine print and have already used the coupon at least twice. I will throw away the rest of my copies, though. I wouldn’t want to do anything dishonest and now that I know what the fine print says, I won’t use it again.

I’m so glad you posted this. Honestly, I had never read the fine print and have already used the coupon at least twice. I will throw away the rest of my copies, though. I wouldn’t want to do anything dishonest and now that I know what the fine print says, I won’t use it again.

i have no problem at all using the printable coupons more than one time and sometimes more than once in one transaction. then again, i shop at one store and before i ever used them, i showed them to the manager, informed him of the source and asked how he felt them being redeemed in his store. he said it was fine with him and often encourages my couponing (giving me CVS beauty book coupons, showing me where hard-to-find ECB producing items are, informing me of hidden deals, etc). so i have no problem with it because i feel that i was upfront and honest from the beginning, and have always acted according to the coupon usage rules he’s put down. the 41 million dollar CVS profit from last quarter tells me i’m not damaging the company’s revenue too much :)

i have no problem at all using the printable coupons more than one time and sometimes more than once in one transaction. then again, i shop at one store and before i ever used them, i showed them to the manager, informed him of the source and asked how he felt them being redeemed in his store. he said it was fine with him and often encourages my couponing (giving me CVS beauty book coupons, showing me where hard-to-find ECB producing items are, informing me of hidden deals, etc). so i have no problem with it because i feel that i was upfront and honest from the beginning, and have always acted according to the coupon usage rules he’s put down. the 41 million dollar CVS profit from last quarter tells me i’m not damaging the company’s revenue too much :)

I understood it the same way as this person who said, “As I understand it, coupon terminology like “one per person” or “one per customer” is generally accepted to mean “per transaction.” Just like “one per purchase” means per each item purchased, not the whole transaction.”

I understood it the same way as this person who said, “As I understand it, coupon terminology like “one per person” or “one per customer” is generally accepted to mean “per transaction.” Just like “one per purchase” means per each item purchased, not the whole transaction.”

I’m very happy to see this post. Wednesday I went to do my usual run at CVS and took in my “$2.00 off CVS skin product” coupon. when I presented it the cashier screamed “I knew it!” She picked up a pile of probably 20 coupons that were in black in white that two ladies had used that morning. She than explained that she had found them using the copier and printing more off to use that day. They pretty much told me they would no longer be taking coupons printed from the internet. I apologized and explained that I didn’t realize it was an issue. She took my coupon and sent me on my way. But as I was leaving they discussed that the manager was no longer excepting printed coupons. *sigh* all because people couldn’t be honest!

I’m very happy to see this post. Wednesday I went to do my usual run at CVS and took in my “$2.00 off CVS skin product” coupon. when I presented it the cashier screamed “I knew it!” She picked up a pile of probably 20 coupons that were in black in white that two ladies had used that morning. She than explained that she had found them using the copier and printing more off to use that day. They pretty much told me they would no longer be taking coupons printed from the internet. I apologized and explained that I didn’t realize it was an issue. She took my coupon and sent me on my way. But as I was leaving they discussed that the manager was no longer excepting printed coupons. *sigh* all because people couldn’t be honest!

im new to couponing, im a little confused by all this. the beauty books are now for sale in my store for 99 cents. these coupons say the same thing as the 2/10. So why would they let you buy more than one book if you cant use the coupons more than once? i see alot of people using the skin care to get tons of stuff for free. not saying its right but i would really like to know what the policy is??! i thought it was one per customer per visit? but now im questioning it. i dont want to do anything illegal, or wrong so im not going to use them. but has anyone heard the rules from cvs??

im new to couponing, im a little confused by all this. the beauty books are now for sale in my store for 99 cents. these coupons say the same thing as the 2/10. So why would they let you buy more than one book if you cant use the coupons more than once? i see alot of people using the skin care to get tons of stuff for free. not saying its right but i would really like to know what the policy is??! i thought it was one per customer per visit? but now im questioning it. i dont want to do anything illegal, or wrong so im not going to use them. but has anyone heard the rules from cvs??

I'm grateful to those who have posted here for reminding me once again to check my "moral compass".

I confess to having used the Richmond Parents coupons on multiple purchases this month (especially because I'm local and have the actual magazine)and have accumulated quite a storehouse of supplies for close to $0 OOP.

But my mind has not been easy in reflecting on the Golden Rule…if I owned the business, would I want my customers to abuse coupons issued as incentives to draw new purchasers by using them over & over again? I know the answer is no.

What's right is right – and what's wrong (not saying the coupon practice IS but…) is wrong, regardless whether CVS is showing profits. Is it ethical to cheat on taxes if you think the Federal Gov't wastes money? In my book, no, but sometimes I push the limit and have to remind myself whether I am living the example I want to set.

I'm grateful to those who have posted here for reminding me once again to check my "moral compass". I confess to having used the Richmond Parents coupons on multiple purchases this month (especially because I'm local and have the actual magazine)and have accumulated quite a storehouse of supplies for close to $0 OOP. But my mind has not been easy in reflecting on the Golden Rule…if I owned the business, would I want my customers to abuse coupons issued as incentives to draw new purchasers by using them over & over again? I know the answer is no. What's right is right – and what's wrong (not saying the coupon practice IS but…) is wrong, regardless whether CVS is showing profits. Is it ethical to cheat on taxes if you think the Federal Gov't wastes money? In my book, no, but sometimes I push the limit and have to remind myself whether I am living the example I want to set.

I am actually pretty embarrassed by how difficult it has been for me to throw away all my duplicate coupons. Clearly I needed these posts right now. I wonder why so many of us are being convicted about this same thing at the same time??

I am actually pretty embarrassed by how difficult it has been for me to throw away all my duplicate coupons. Clearly I needed these posts right now. I wonder why so many of us are being convicted about this same thing at the same time??

It’s well known that less than 5% of all issued coupons are redeemed at stores. I do use coupons, a lot. I try to do the best I can, not be a pest of myself, and I do try to be honest and ethical. I do not see stores as being “generous”. STORES ARE OUT TO MAKE A PROFIT. End of story! If they did not make a profit, they would not exist. They issue these coupons to GET PEOPLE TO SPEND MORE MONEY!

I rarely shopped at CVS until June. Then I read a money saving blog that caught me on to the great deals. But I still spend money, whereas before they got ZERO dollars from me. So, they are in fact making money off me. They do get reimbursed for all manufacturers coupons, and like I noted above, so few of them are actually redeemed that it’s practically an industry joke. However, for those of us who do budget carefully, they do add up to big savings.

It’s well known that less than 5% of all issued coupons are redeemed at stores. I do use coupons, a lot. I try to do the best I can, not be a pest of myself, and I do try to be honest and ethical. I do not see stores as being “generous”. STORES ARE OUT TO MAKE A PROFIT. End of story! If they did not make a profit, they would not exist. They issue these coupons to GET PEOPLE TO SPEND MORE MONEY! I rarely shopped at CVS until June. Then I read a money saving blog that caught me on to the great deals. But I still spend money, whereas before they got ZERO dollars from me. So, they are in fact making money off me. They do get reimbursed for all manufacturers coupons, and like I noted above, so few of them are actually redeemed that it’s practically an industry joke. However, for those of us who do budget carefully, they do add up to big savings.